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Idea Channel

Idea Channel
Here's an idea: a PBS show that examines the connections between pop culture, technology and art. Mike Rugnetta posts new videos every other Wednesday.
For more info: http://www.pbs.org/arts/exhibit/idea-channel-season1/

Latest Episodes

Is Buying Call of Duty a Moral Choice?
Is Buying Call of Duty a Moral Choice?
Air date: 04-12-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2364995173/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false If you play video games, you've shot a gun. And those guns are REALISTIC. So real that many are actually LICENSED by IRL arms dealers. Which means that when you buy a video game, you're also putting money in the pockets of those gun manufacturers. That's fine and dandy if you're a fan of guns, but... /episodes/get/8518 /episode/8518 Idea Channel: Is Buying Call of Duty a Moral Choice? /episode-player/8518
Is Community a Postmodern Masterpiece?
Is Community a Postmodern Masterpiece?
Air date: 04-04-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2364990833/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Though the TV show Community has never achieved huge ratings, it has a passionate cult following, including us here at Idea Channel. The show plays with genre and narrative in such a creative way that it brings to mind the cultural and artistic theory of Postmodernism. /episodes/get/8448 /episode/8448 Idea Channel: Is Community a Postmodern Masterpiece? /episode-player/8448
Will Kickstarter Replace Hollywood?
Will Kickstarter Replace Hollywood?
Air date: 03-28-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2363158016/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Although it's funding is nowhere NEAR the amount Hollywood invests in moviemaking each year, crowdfunding is a way better indicator of what the audience wants to see, the one area Hollywood has failed in time and time again. Will Kickstarter put an end to the Hollywood system? /episodes/get/8374 /episode/8374 Idea Channel: Will Kickstarter Replace Hollywood? /episode-player/8374
Is Piracy Helping Game of Thrones?
Is Piracy Helping Game of Thrones?
Air date: 03-20-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2352297614/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false A huge amount of viewers of the HBO series Game of Thrones (not us of course, no no no) are downloading the show illegally. But despite being the most pirated show of 2012, the Game of Thrones DVDs are top sellers, breaking HBO's own sales records!! Could it be that piracy is actually HELPING the... /episodes/get/8295 /episode/8295 Idea Channel: Is Piracy Helping Game of Thrones? /episode-player/8295
Do Knock-Offs Prove the Value of a Brand?
Do Knock-Offs Prove the Value of a Brand?
Air date: 03-14-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2343807030/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false We're willing to pay hundreds or thousands more for a specific brand name item, but sometimes it can be tempting to go the way of the knock-off for a fraction of the price. The counterfeit industry is huge and isn't going anywhere, and companies spend huge amounts to dissuade people from buying "... /episodes/get/8228 /episode/8228 Idea Channel: Do Knock-Offs Prove the Value of a Brand? /episode-player/8228
Is Minecraft the Ultimate Educational Tool?
Is Minecraft the Ultimate Educational Tool?
Air date: 03-08-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2341534821/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Some experts have brought Minecraft into the classroom, allowing teachers to customize lessons and students to engage with concepts in new ways. And while educational games aren't new, Minecraft has some unique advantages that could usher in a new direction in education. In the future, students... /episodes/get/8188 /episode/8188 Idea Channel: Is Minecraft the Ultimate Educational Tool? /episode-player/8188
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Episode Archive

Super Mario Brothers as Surrealist Art?
Super Mario Brothers as Surrealist Art?
We all know the Mario Brothers. But have you ever stepped back and tried looking at those games from a fresh perspective? They're bananas! There are armored turtles who stand on their hind legs and steal princesses! There are bullets with FACES! We make a case for Mario's inclusion into a canon of...
Air date: 03/15/2012
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http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2210431822/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false We all know the Mario Brothers. But have you ever stepped back and tried looking at those games from a fresh perspective? They're bananas! There are armored turtles who stand on their hind legs and steal princesses! There are bullets with FACES! We make a case for Mario's inclusion into a canon of... /episodes/get/5476 /episode/5476 Idea Channel: Super Mario Brothers as Surrealist Art? /episode-player/5476
What Makes a Pop Star Authentic?
What Makes a Pop Star Authentic?
Miku Hatsune is a computer generated pop star from Japan who has performed to sell out crowds. Lana Del Rey is a rising singer-performer who has encountered controversy over her alleged authenticity as an artist. IDEA channel raises the question: what does authenticity really mean in the world of...
Air date: 03/30/2012
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http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2217385729/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Miku Hatsune is a computer generated pop star from Japan who has performed to sell out crowds. Lana Del Rey is a rising singer-performer who has encountered controversy over her alleged authenticity as an artist. IDEA channel raises the question: what does authenticity really mean in the world of... /episodes/get/5479 /episode/5479 Idea Channel: What Makes a Pop Star Authentic? /episode-player/5479
Are LOLCats and Internet Memes Art?
Are LOLCats and Internet Memes Art?
We've all seen and shared a few LOLCats and Internet Memes in our time, but is it possible that these images and videos are actually a new form of art? Idea Channel takes a closer look at how memes function in our new interconnected culture and consults the wisdom of artists past and present to see...
Air date: 04/16/2012
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http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2223395273/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false We've all seen and shared a few LOLCats and Internet Memes in our time, but is it possible that these images and videos are actually a new form of art? Idea Channel takes a closer look at how memes function in our new interconnected culture and consults the wisdom of artists past and present to see... /episodes/get/5465 /episode/5465 Idea Channel: Are LOLCats and Internet Memes Art? /episode-player/5465
Is Instagram Revolutionizing Photography?
Is Instagram Revolutionizing Photography?
With its ability to make boring cellphone photos look "vintage" and "artsy", the mobile application Instagram has exploded worldwide. Derided by its detractors as a tool for making bad photos worse, we take an alternate view and argue that Instagram is the greatest thing to ever happen to...
Air date: 04/26/2012
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http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2227395030/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false With its ability to make boring cellphone photos look "vintage" and "artsy", the mobile application Instagram has exploded worldwide. Derided by its detractors as a tool for making bad photos worse, we take an alternate view and argue that Instagram is the greatest thing to ever happen to... /episodes/get/5472 /episode/5472 Idea Channel: Is Instagram Revolutionizing Photography? /episode-player/5472
Hello Kitty, Minimalist Icon?
Hello Kitty, Minimalist Icon?
With her cute pink bow and huge noggin, Hello Kitty is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. She sells billions of dollars worth of merchandise, but what is it about this simple cartoon cat that makes her such a beloved piece of pop culture? Ahead of her time when first created in...
Air date: 05/09/2012
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http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2232715113/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false With her cute pink bow and huge noggin, Hello Kitty is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. She sells billions of dollars worth of merchandise, but what is it about this simple cartoon cat that makes her such a beloved piece of pop culture? Ahead of her time when first created in... /episodes/get/5470 /episode/5470 Idea Channel: Hello Kitty, Minimalist Icon? /episode-player/5470
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